The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1887-01-22

MEUCCPS TELEPHONE.
A Chicago Paper Revamps the Story of the
Italians Claim to the Invention.

CHICAGO. Jan. 21.-The case of the United
States against the Bell Telephone Company, to
test the validity of the telephone patent granted
to Professor Bell, is made the occasion of pub
lication here this afternoon, as to some of the
points which will be employed by the govern
ment counsel to combat Professor Bells claim
to being the inventor Of the telephone The
Evening Journal, in outlining the evidence, says:.
There is in this city to-day an aged Italian,
Antonio Meucci. who, with counsel, has come
West in the telephone interest which he repre-
sants. Mr. Meucci was seen by Jour
nal reporter this afternoon and gave
the details of his case, which, while
hinted at, have never been published before.
Antonio Meucci Is an aged man, with white hair
and nerveless hand. He uses very little En-
ghsh. and conversed during the interview in
italian, through an interpreter. In his posses
sion were certified papers from the Patent Office
at Washington, D. G.. and an abundance Of aft
davits and testimony dating from the year 1862
From the story of Mr. Meucci it appears that
during the year 1S49 he was living with his wife
in the city of Havana, Cuba He was director
of mechanism while she was superintendent OF
the costume department OF the Tacon Opera
mornings, when unengaged, he had experiment
ed with electricity and electrical implements.
He had theory that disease
could be cured by electricity, and
W0ll0 pursuing IQ0 lnVeSGg8tlCn OF
these ideas he determined to try the effects on
friend A wire and battery were connected
there being complete circuit. Each wire was
connected with copper plate, which the Italian
caused the man to put into his mouth. The
men were in different rooms. and the shock to
one caused him to exclaim when he put the cop-
per plate into his mouth. Meucci, at the other
end of the line, had the copper plate between
his teeth, and heard the sound, the communca-
ton being through the medium of the teeth to
the auditory nerve. He continued to expert
ment on the discovery. About May l. 1851. he
perfected paper cone, and conversed. though
very family. with persons across the street,
using as the instrument membraueouS dla-
pbragm, like that used in later years by the Bell
com oany. Meucci soon moved to New York,
where struggle between poverty and desire
to further his inventive interests began.
The history of the discovery, as set forth in the
long interview, and Meucci's right to the claim
of priority and his attempts to secure his
rights through long years of extreme poverty,
would form startling story itself, but when
| reinforced by the later developments it becomes
| unimpeachable In New York, the aged in
ventor took his papers, specifications and models
to Mr. Grant at that time vice president of the
| New York District Telegraph Company. and de
| sired him 20 submit them to the electrician ex.
| pert of the company. This Mr. Grant promised
| to do, but kept delaying this for nearly two
years. In the meantime. Meucci-fearing to lose
| his right. through Mr.. Thomas D. Stetston. a
| patent attorney there, filed caveat in which
s'sound telegraph" and which cayeat was granted
! Dec. %. 1871, five years before that-of Graham
| Bell The Journal then prints description OF
/ Meucci's invention as filed in the Patent Office
| at Washington, which is of great length. After
| describing his claims covering the main points
| urged by Professor Bell for his patent Mr.
| Meucci makes the following claim in 1872. which
| is now on filed in the Patent Ofice
| l. A continuous sound conductor electrically
| insulated.
| 2. The same, adapted for telegraphing by
| sound or for conversation between distant par
| ties electrically insulated.
/ g. The employment of a sound-conductor
| which is also electrical conductor, as means
of communication by sound between distau
| points.
4. The same, in combination with provision
for electrically insulating the sending and re
| ceiving parties
s. tn mouth piece or speaking utensil, il
combination with an Observation-Disclosures con
| ductor.
g. The ear utensils, or receiving vessels
| adapted to apply upon the ears, in combinatio
with an MISUNDERSTANDING sound conductor
| 4 The entire system comprising the electrica
ana sound conductor, insulated and furnishe
| with mouth piece and ear piece at each end
adapted to serve as specified.
| The documentary evidence now on file in th
| secret archives of the Patent Office is also put
lished by the Journal, showing tnat the claim
OF Meucci to inventing telegraphiEg by SCUM
were recognized by the Commissioner of Patents
together with an acknowledgements of improve
ments in December 1872 and again in Deeen
part the patent issued to Professor Bell.